On the efficiency of meridional eddy transport processes during the major stratospheric warming of January 1977

Abstract

Correlation coefficients between the meridional wind and zonal wind and meridional wind and temperature measure the efficiencies of eddy transports of momentum and heat, respectively. Efficiencies are calculated in terms of these correlation coefficients for the major warming event of January 1977. It is found that the eddies are more efficient in transporting heat than in transporting momentum. Further, the efficiency of heat transport increased substantially before the meridional temperature gradient reversed. Increase of efficiency in heat transport is found to be related to the increased westward tilt of a wave in the height field. Since this tilt is known to be associated with vertical propagation of wave energy, interesting connections are inferred between the efficiencies of eddy transports, wave structure and energetics during a stratospheric warming. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1981.tb01730.x